Newbie Storage Server Question - HP ProLiant DL320s

[ViperCS]

I have a HP ProLiant DL320s Storage Server laying around and I plan on playing around with it and using it to learn a bit more. I am very new to "servers" outside of desktop nas devices. I have been doing some research and on the HP site it says the max drive size is 750GB. "Internal storage capacity of up to 9TB (12 x 750 GB SATA hard drives)" Is this true? Am I limited to 750GB HDD's? What determines the max HDD size? There is a HP Smart Array P800 Installed. I put a 2TB Drive in and it seems to have recognized it no problem.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

750 gig drives were probably the largest drive HP had as an option for that server when it came out, and they wrote their tech manuals.

Probably will take larger drives....update the system BIOS, and have the RAID controller firmware updated. The RAID controller may have a limitation...checking up on firmware releases for it should give some info.

 

[SAG]

StoneCat nailed it.
It is in the OEMs best interest that you purchase their hardware, and their tech specs and manuals usually reflect that. At the time that server was new, a 750GB was likely the largest that HP produced (or was branded on).
It's not just HP either - try using the normal consumer channels of ordering a Dell server but tell them you want it diskless. They will probably refuse to sell you a server that way.

On the flip side, even though the BIOS will display the correct size of the drive you installed, it's a possibility that it will not make use of it properly (stranger things have happened). The only way to know is to update all the firmware... and give it a shot.

 

[ViperCS]

Thanks guys. I just came across a new update for the raid card that increases the max to 8ZB

 

[SAG]

Thanks guys. I just came across a new update for the raid card that increases the max to 8ZB

Hrm....
Not sure if that is going to be enough.

 

[ViperCS]

I might end up using this server for Crashplan proe. But I would also like to be able to use it for an internal file server in my office. Should I just run something like Freenas on it? or something else?

 

[zchehi]

Why not try using Linux, there is huge growth on the enterprise side and you will see more potential in this area, as far as windows and server 2003 and 2008 r2 is still in use, you won't see a huge adoption of 2012 for awhile based on price.

I would put windows 2008 r2 on the server and setup your domain controller and start practicing active directory.

 

[ViperCS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116999

Put that on the server? Is the above link a good price? Can I find it cheaper somewhere else?

 

[Vicenarian]

or just download the trial, and re-arm it every 30 days for a total of 6 months of trial time?

 

[ViperCS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832254044

I assume this would work? Can anyone confirm?

 

[ViperCS]

Or should I go with Windows Server 2012 Essentials


Use: Testing and then production for crashplan proe

 

[SAG]

Or how about Hyper-V (Free) and then create a few guest VMs.